Tattoo Parlors Rules Proposed By Plainville-Southington Health Agency

New regulation proposed for tattoo parlors in Plainville and Southington by health district

PLAINVILLE — A proposal to regulate and inspect conditions in tattoo parlors has been proposed by the public health agency that serves Plainville and Southington.

A hearing on the proposal is scheduled for March 12, Plainville Town Manager Robert Lee said. He recently told the Plainville Town Council that the purpose is to promote public health and safety.

Shane Lockwood, director of the Plainville-Southington Regional Health District, said the proposal has been under discussion form more than a year and is intended to dovetail with new state health rules requiring licenses for tattoo technicians. Those rules, though, are silent on conditions and practices in such businesses, he said.

Lockwood said the district's concerns includes use of clean needles, sterilization of equipment and hygienic conditions.

"Right now, there are four tattoo businesses in Southington and none in Plainville," Lockwood said. "We've never had any complaint, but there are no regulations about the shops. We want to make sure of safety and hygienics."

The health district's board began discussing the tattoo parlor proposal in late 2013 and has met with at least one tattoo parlor artist to learn about the craft and business. Board members said in meetings last year that they were trying to be proactive by proposing the ordinance.

"Years ago, tattoos were not as common as they are today, Lockwood said. "Now, you go to the beach in summer and you'll see people with tattoos everywhere. We want to give the public a little more peace of mind that these shops are being looked at. We think it's great that the state is having training now for the technicians. This is another aspect of this issue."